What is the best airport to fly into when visiting Yellowstone? We'll be travelling from the East Coast, and meeting up with another couple in their RV. We'll be renting a car once we arrive.

I would have done a search on Yellowstone to find this info, but I can't get the search function to work right now....

Thanks!

Commercial airlines serve the following airports near Yellowstone National Park all year: Cody and Jackson, WY; Bozeman and Billings, MT, and Idaho Falls, ID. The West Yellowstone, MT airport is open from June to early September. Since you probably also want to see the Tetons on your trip (right?) I would fly into Jackson.

Previous post is correct..I would suggest Jackson as well..and I think that Delta, American, and United all fly into Jackson..so the connections will be pretty good..

I guess it depends on how you define "best airport." Sometimes you can get a much better airline fare if you select one of the alternative airports in the Yellowstone vicinity. Delta was offering fares a few weeks ago (and for a very short time) into Missoula that were cheaper than the fares for Jackson. Missoula is not very far from Yellowstone in terms of time. Of course it does take longer to drive it, and you will have to weigh the cost differential. Billings, Montana, is also an option. And the drive to Yellowstone over the Beartooth Highsay is spectacular to say the least.

You might also want to factor in the cost of a rental car before choosing which airport. Last October, Billings was $700 more than Spokane (I was also going to Glacier as well as Yellowstone). Salt Lake City airport is another option.

I got this info from the Yellowstone website:
Air Travel
The closest major or international airport is Salt Lake City, Utah. All major airlines fly into Salt Lake.
There are closer smaller airports in or near the gateway cities. You can rent vehicles at Salt Lake or any of these airports. The following airports are listed according to their proximity to Yellowstone.
West Yellowstone, Montana - at the West Entrance of Yellowstone. This airport is open June through September. Airlines: Skywest Airlines out of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Cody, Wyoming - about 50 miles east of the park. Airport is open all year.
Airlines: Skywest and United.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming - about 60 miles south of the park. Airport is open all year.
Airlines: American, Skywest and United.
Bozeman, Montana - about 90 miles north of the park. Airport is open all year.
Airlines: Delta, Horizon, Northwest and Skywest.
Idaho Falls, Idaho - about 110 miles southwest of the park. Airport is open all year.
Airlines: Skywest and United.
Billings, Montana - about 120 miles northeast of the park. Airport is open all year.
Airlines: Delta, Horizon, Northwest, Skywest and United.

Bus Transportation to the Park
Salt Lake City, Utah to West Yellowstone, Montana. Leaves daily at 8:25 am and arrives at 4:55 pm. The cost is approximately: $ 52.00 one way. This is provided by Greyhound Bus Line.

Bozeman, Montana to West Yellowstone, Montana. Leaves daily at 9:00 am and arrives at 11:15 am.
The cost is approximately: $ 14.00 one way. This is provided by Greyhound Bus Line.

Livingston, Montana to West Yellowstone, Montana. Leaves daily at 7:45 am and arrives at 11:15 am.
The cost is approximately: $ 18.00 one way. This is provided by Greyhound Bus Line.

Daily Tour Buses and Taxis operate from West Yellowstone, Montana and Cody and Jackson, Wyoming during late spring and summer.

The official position on air travel and bus travel to and from Yellowstone is well and good. But the airport in Billings has service to and from Denver as well Minneapolis. (And SLC is not served by US Air as far as I know.)
The flights into the various smaller cities in Montana and Idaho are regularly scheduled flights on airlines like Delta. Normally these aircraft are not puddle jumper commuter aircraft.

As for taking the bus to Yellowstone, what do you use for transportation after you get there?? Yellowstone is a big park, and trying to see it without your own transportation leaves you at the mercy of either the tour buses or hitchhking.

I fully agree that the cost of a rental car can be considerable. And the total package of air fare and rental car rates needs to be considered. I found out several years ago that flying to Kalispell so we could visit Glacier NP was not the bargain it appeared to be because of the rental car fees I would have had to pay. I flew into Calgary instead.